Theftproof hanger for frames



May 9, 1933.

J. A. HOEGGER 1,908,147

THEFTPROOF HANGER FOR FRAMES Filed NOV. 14 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTCR BY HLS May 9, 1933. J. A. HOEGGER THEFTPROOF' HANGER FOR FRAMESFiled Nov. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I q W ATTORN Patented May9, 1933 UNITED STATES JOSEPH A. HOEGGER, F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEYTHEFTPROOF HANGER FOR FRAMES Application filed November 14, 1931.

My invention relates to an improved hanger for mounting objects such asmirror frames upon a wall or other support, and more particularly to ahanger adapted to lock the objectsagainst unauthorized detachment fromtheir supports. I

It is oftentimes desirable to mount mlrror frames, picture frames,panels andother objects on a wall or other support 1n such a way thatthe supported articles lie flat against their support and also sothatthe hanging means are concealed by the article. It is also desirableto mount such artlcles so that they cannot be dismounted and taken awayby unauthorized persons.

A feature of my invention is a hanger for articles of the type mentionedin which the hanger locks the article in place on lts suport.

A second feature resides in a hanger which is concealed by the supportedarticle in such manner that an unauthorized person desiring to dismountthe article would experience difficulty in ascertaining the manner inwhich the article is mounted and locked in place.

Other features and advantages will become apparenton consideration ofthe following description and claims when read in (3011]11110- tion withthe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mirror embodying the hanger of myinvention.

Figure 2 is a View along the line 22 of Figure 1 and partly'in sectionto show details of the hanger.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the mirror, with one corner broken awayand sectioned to illustrate the mirror construction.

Figure 4 is a view, partly in section on the .40 line 44 of Figure 1,and shows a latching tongue and an associated bracket carried by themirror.

Figure 5 is a view, partly in section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1,illustrating a supporting tongue and an associated bracket.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts of myhanger and illustrates their relationship for supporting and locking themirror in place.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of a mirror Serial No. 575,032.

embodying a different form of my invention.

Figure 8 is a view on line 8-48 of Figure 7 and partly in section toshow details of the hange t Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8showing the mirror disengaged from the hanger. t

Figure 10 is a detail of the form of my invention shown in F igure, 7showing the unlatching means.

Figure 11 is a view in section showing the latching means.

Figure 12 is a front elevation of a mirror embodying a different form ofmy invention.

Referring to the drawings in Figures 1 to 5 the numeral 11 designatesthe frame of an article, such as a mirror 12 which is mounted and lockedin place on a wall 13 or other support by the hanger of my invention. InFigures 7 to 11 the numeral 111 designates a different form of framehaving a flange 112 extending therefrom to the wall andadapted to fitsnugly against the wall to conceal the hanger.

Mounted on the back plate 14 of the mirror are a plurality of brackets15. Each bracket comprises a metallic strip secured to the plate 14 byfasteners 17 and having a portion 18 spaced from the plate by theportions 20, so that each bracket forms a socket 21.

A plate 22, secured to the wall 13 by suitable fastening means, isprovided with a plu-' rality of spaced tongues 24 as in Figures 1 to 5,or 124 as in Figures 7 to 11, adapted to extend into the sockets 21 onthe back plate of the mirror, to support the latter on the wall 13. Ifdesired, the tongues 24 or 124 may have individual supporting bases,suitably secured to the wall, and spaced in accordance with the spacingof the brackets 15 on the mirror 12.

' However, it is deemed desirable in order to simplify the hanger andfacilitate the mounting and alignment thereof to provide a singlesupporting plate for all the tongues 24 or 124. In the embodimentillustrated the plate 22 is of I-shape, having a tongue adjacent the endof each arm 25 thereof; but it is to be understood that the plate 22 maybe of any other shape which is found convenient or adaptable Ioffsetting of the tongues 24 from the plate 22 so that they are spacedslightly from the wall 13 insures that the tongues are properlypositioned to enter the sockets 21 on the mirror when the latter isplaced against the wall and moved downwardly. In Figures 7 to 11 Iemploy spring tongues 124. These tongues are offset from the plate 22 asin the other form but the tongues 124 are springs having a bendextending from thewall and adapted to engage the brackets 15 and holdthe mirror tightly against the wall. The upper'portion of tongues 124flares away from the wall and is spaced from the wall to insure entry ofthe tongues 124 into the sockets 21 on the mirror when it is placedagainst the wall and moved downwardly.

At least one of the tongues, such as 26 or 126,.is pivotally mounted onthe plate 22, while the others are fix-ed against movement, as by beingintegral with their respective arms. The pivoted tongue 26 has a nose 27so that the tongue is in the form of a latch for locking the supportedarticle in place and tongue 126 has nose 127 for the same purpose. Thispivoted notched tongue 26 acts like a latch hook and will hereinafter bereferred to as the pivoted tongue hook.

Mounted on the back plate of the mirror 12 is a spring 28 which extendsinto the socket 21 of the bracket 15 which cooperates with the pivotedtongue hook 26 for supporting the mirror. The spring 28 is adapted, whenthe mirror is assembled with plate 22; to engage the latching tonguehook 26 and move hook 26 when disassociated from the mirror.v

The spring is also protected against damage by the bracket 15 formingthe socket 21. A still further advantage is that prior to mounting themirror on plate 22 the tongue hook 26 or' 126 may be moved to verticalposition to receive the corresponding socket 21 and does not requirefurther attention while mounting the mirror to maintain it positioned toenter the socket. A thin fiat tool 32 is provided for unlatching thetongue hook 26. In the modification shown in Figures 7 to 11 in whichthe frame 111 is provided with the flange 112 a thin fiat tool 132 isprovided for unlatching the tongue 126, and a slot or notch 133 isprovided in the flange 112 so positions that when tool 132 is insertedit will contact with the tongue 126 for disengagement.

After the plate 22 has been fastened to the wall 13 the mirror is placedagainst the wall,

so that the sockets 21 are located above and is properly positioned thenose 27 or 127 extends laterally above the portion 20 of bracket 15,thus locking the mirror to the supporting plate.

To dismount the mirror the tool 32 is inserted between the back plate 14and wall 13 and moved to engage the latching tongue 26 and release thenose 27 thereof from engagement with the portion 20 of bracket 15. Todismount the mirror illustrated in Figures 7 to 11 the tool 132 isinserted between the back plate 14 and wall 13 through the notch 133 toengage latching tongue 126 and release the nose 127 thereof fromengagement with bracket 15. While the latching tongue is held releasedthe mirror is moved upwardly on plate 14 and the sockets disengaged fromthe tongues in order that the mirror may be dismounted.

In Figure 12 I show a modification of my invention for use on mirrors ofsuch size that more than two brackets 15 would be undesirable. The useof a pivoted tongue hook such. as 26 or 126 would be undesirable becausean upward lift on the side of the mirror that was not engaged bylatching tongue would disengage that tongue and make possible thedisengagement of the latching tongue by a mere shifting of the mirror.In Figure 12 a frame 122 is provided for tongues 24 adapted to fitwithin the brackets 15 on the back of the mirror. mounted on the support122 at 135. On the back plate of the mirror is a spring 128 fastened bya screw at 136 and a pin137 is provided on the back of the mirror and soarranged with relation to the brackets 15 that the hook 134 engages pin137 when the mirror is in place, and the spring 128 engaging the hook134 holds the hook in place and prevents the removal of the mirror. Thehook1'34 can be disengaged in a manner similar to the disengagement ofthe pivoted latching tongue 26 or 126.

It is to be noted that the mirror is locked in place by its own mountingmeans and as A hook 134 is pivotally a consequence, the construction issimple and may be cheaply manufactured as separate locking devices areunnecessary.

It should also be noted that the simple operation of mounting the mirroron its supporting plate also effects the automatic locking of the mirrorto the support. As a result, the mirror is locked without furtherattention and thus the operation of mounting and locking of the mirroris exceedingly simple.

Further, the mirror when mounted conceals its own mounting means, thuspresenting apleasing appearance. This concealment of the mounting means,which also functions to lock the mirror in place, also decreases theliability that unauthorized persons may dismount and remove the mirror.

While my invention has been described in its preferred form, there aremany changes and variations which may be made without departure from thespirit thereof and I desire to include all such changes and variationswithin the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a stationary supporting member, a member adaptedto be supported thereon; mounting means associated with said membersincluding a plurality of brackets on one of said members and a pluralityof tongues on the other of said members adapted to engage said brackets,one of said tongues being adjustable, and means associated with saidmounting means for engaging said adjustable tongue for locking saidsupported member to said supporting, member, said mounting and lockingmeans being concealed from View by the regular confines of the supportedmember.

2. In combination with a stationary supporting member, a member adaptedto be supported thereon; mounting means associated with said membersincluding a plurality of brackets on one of said members and a pluralityof tongues on the other of said members adapted to engage said bracketsand means associated with one of said brackets for engaging one of saidtongues for locking said supported member to sa d supporting member,said mounting and locking means being concealed from view by the regularconfines of the supported member.

3. In combination with a stationary support, a member adapted to besupported thereon; means associated with said member and said supportfor mounting said member thereon, said means comprising a plurality ofbrackets carried by said member and a plurality of tongues on saidsupport adapted to engage said brackets; and means associated with oneof said tongues and one of said brackets for locking said member to saidsupport, said mounting and locking means being concealed from View bythe regular confines of the supported member, said locking means beingadapted to be-tool operated to become unlocked.

' 4. In combination with a support, a plate secured thereto and having aplurality of spaced tongues :and a hook thereon, said tongues beingofi'set from the plane of said plate and in spaced relation with respectto said support; a supported member; a plurality of brackets secured inspaced relation to said member, said brackets being spaced on saidmember in accordance with the spacing of said tongues on said plate andbeing adapted to engage said tongues to mount said member on said plate;and means associated with said hook and one of said brackets for causingsaid hook to lock said member in place on said plate.

5. Means for mounting a member on a stationary support and looking itagainst detachment therefrom comprising, a latching hook pivotallysecured to said support; a bracket carried by said member and engagingsaid hook to mount said member on said support; and a spring cooperatingwith said hook to move the latter into latching engagement with saidbracket, said support and mounting and locking means being concealedfrom view behind the regular confines of the supported member.

6. Means for mounting a member on a stationary support and looking itagainst detachment, said means including a hook pivotally mounted onsaid support, a bracket carried by said member and having a socket forreceiving said hook to mount said memher on said support, said hookbeing adapted in one position to slide freely in said socket and inanother position to enter into locking engagement with said bracket; anda spring extending into said socket for engaging said hook to move thelatter about its pivot from said first mentioned position into lookingrelation with said bracket.

7. In combination with a stationary support, a hook pivotally mounted onsaid support and offset from the plane thereof; a supported member; abracket secured to said member and provided with a socket spaced fromsaid member for engaging said hook to mount said member on said support;and means for moving said tongue about its pivot to engage said bracketfor locking said member on said support, said support and mounting andlocking means being concealed from view behind the regular confines ofthe supported member.

8. In combination with a stationary support, a hook pivotally mounted onsaid sup port and offset from the plane thereof; a supported member, abracket secured to said member and provided with a socket spaced fromsaid member for engaging said hook to mount said member 011 saidsupport; and 1 ieans extending into said socket and engagingsaid hookfor moving the latter about its abs 7 for locking said member to saidsupport, said support and mounting and locking means being concealedfrom View behlnd the regular confines of the supported member.

10. In combination with a stationary support, a hook pivotally mountedon said support and offset from the plane thereof; a supported member; abracket secured to said member and provided with a socket spaced fromsaid member for engaging said hook to mount said member on said support;and a spring mounted on said member and extending into said socket forengaging said hook, when said member is mounted on said sup-- port, tomove said hook about its pivot into engagement with said bracket.

11. In combination with a support, a tongue secured to said support andoffset from the plane thereof; an offset hook pivotally mounted on saidsupport; a supported member; a plurality of brackets on said memberadapted to engage said tongue and said hook to mount said member on saidsupport; a latching nose on said @hook; and a spring cooperating withsaid hook for causing the nose thereon to engage the bracket associatedwith said hookfor locking said member on said support. 7

12. In combination with a support, a plate secured thereto; a pluralityof tongues on said plate said tongues being offset from said plate andspaced from said support, a hook pivotally mounted on said support andhaving a laterally extending nose; .a supported member; a plurality ofbrackets carried by said member, each of said brackets having a portionspaced from said member and defining a socket adapted to receive one ofsaid tongues and said hook for mounting said member on said support; anda spring on said member adjacent one of said brackets and ex tendinginto the socket formed thereby for engaging said hook to move the nosethereof into engagement with said bracket.

13. In combination a support, a member adapted to be mounted on saidsupport and having a flange extending therefrom and adapted to be heldagainst the support and to conceal mounted means, mounting means ineluding a bracket mounted on said member and within said flange, apivoted hookmounted on said support and adapted to engage said bracketto lock said member upon said support and a slot in said flange adaptedto receive a tool to disengage said hook from said bracket.

14-. In combination a support, a member adapted to be supported therebyhaving a flange extending therefrom and adapted to be held against thesupport and to conceal mounting means, a plurality of brackets from saidsupport.

15. In combination with a support a member adapted to be supportedthereby, a plurality of brackets on said member and spring tongues onsaid support adapted to engage said brackets and to hold said memberfirmly against said support, one of said tongues bepivoted on saidsupport and adapted to engage one of said brackets to lock said memberagainst detachmentfrom said. support, said support and -mounting andlocking means being concealed from view behind, the regular confinesofthe supported member.

16. In combination with a supporting member, a member adapted to besupported thereon, mounting and locking means associated with saidmembers including a tongue arried by the supporting member and offsetfrom the plane thereof. a bracket carried by said supported member andoperable to cooperate with said tongue, a catch means mounted on one ofsaid members, a latching means operable to coope ate with said catchmeans, and a spring operable on said latching means to hold the same inengagement with said catch means whereby a locking engagement isobtained between said supporting member and said supported member.

17. In combination with a supporting member, a member adapted to besupported thereon, mounting and locking means associated with saidmembers including a tongue carried by one of said members, an engagingmeans cooperating with said tongue car'- ried by the other member, acatch means mounted on one of said members, a latching means operable tocooperate with said catch means mounted on the other of said members.and means operable on said latching means to hold the same in engagementwith said catch whereby a locking engagement is .obtained between saidsupported member and said supporting member. 7

In testimony whereof, I have signed 111? name to this specification this9th day of No vember, 1931.

JOSEPH A. HOEGGER.

